Wheeler Promises to Overturn Laws Blocking Muni Broadband

As reported previously on the Legislative Committee blog, a number of states have introduced or passed legislation that would prohibit the expansion of municipally-owned and -operated fiber networks.  The legislation, in several instances, has been promoted by incumbent oligopoly broadband providers.

In a statement made earlier this week at a cable industry conference, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised to use his regulatory authority (Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act) to “preempt state laws that ban competition from community broadband.”

A full transcript of his speech may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut

FCC Fires Warning Shot at State Broadband Restrictions

Two weeks ago on this blog, we discussed pending legislation in Utah that would prohibit broadband competition from a fiber network developed by a coalition of local municipalities.  Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler asserted the FCC’s authority to review and possibly overturn such competition-restricting legislation, citing Judge Silberman’s dissenting opinion in last month’s D.C. Circuit decision in Verizon.  

ArsTechnica has full coverage here.

posted by Anant Raut